Childhood Obesity

Childhood Obesity: Childhood obesity has plagued a generation--one that that has been predicted to be the first that will not outlive their parents. Addressing the issue of childhood obesity in the African American community requires an advocacy agenda designed to change policies and programs at the local, state and federal levels and an effective, community-wide outreach plan that will educate African American families and increase awareness on the root causes for childhood obesity, its connection to other health disorders that affect our well-being, and the need to eradicate childhood obesity across the nation.

For the first time in U.S. history, the current generation of young people could be the first to live sicker and die younger than their parents’ generationChildhood obesity is plaguing African-American populations at a rate that is disproportionately higher than the rest of the country. The NAACP is focusing on three policy areas to address the root causes of childhood obesity.

1) Built environment: We need to improve community walk-ability and public transportation, enhance recreational spaces, and allow for better access to school playgrounds outside of school hours.2) Food environments: Communities need better access to healthy, affordable foods in corner stores and local grocery stores.3) School-based policies: Schools must emphasize increased physical activity during the school day and provide more nutritious school foods and drinks, including what is available at meals, in vending machines, and at concessions.

Obesity rates have soared among all age groups, increasing more than four-fold among children ages 6 to 11 over the last 40 years throughout America. Recent studies found that 33% of 6 to 11 year olds and 34% of 12 to 19 year olds are overweight; these rates have roughly doubled since 1980. Sadly, major disparities exist among the obesity rates of children based on race, ethnicity, and poverty; for example 38% of Latino children and 34.9% of African-American children ages 2 to 19 are overweight or obese, compared with 30.7% of White children and 39.5% of low-income American Indian and Alaska Native children ages 2 to 5 who are overweight or obese.